[Endocrine cells of the esophageal glands]

Distribution of endocrine cells in the human oesophagus was studied histochemically. Large amount of endocrine cells was discovered in terminal parts and excretory ducts of the cardial glands. Endocrine cells of the oesophageal cardial glands are represented, at least, by three types: argentaffine, argyrophil in the reactions of Grimelius and Sevier, Munger and argyrophil in the reaction of Grimelius only. The amount of argentaffine cells in the oesophageal cardial glands was observed to be 5 times as large as that of in the gastric cardial glands. The reason is evidently in functional difference of the oesophageal and gastric cardial glands. The endocrine cells were absent in the mucous glands of the oesophagus.